Category: Health Industry

Sen. Alexander Releases Bipartisan Plan To Lower Health Costs, End Surprise Bills

The Republican’s legislation, prepared with Sen. Patty Murray, the ranking Democrat on Alexander’s health committee, would be an ambitious lift because it also deals with prescription drug patents, health transparency and vaccine messaging.

Are Surprises Ahead For Legislation To Curb Surprise Medical Bills?

This high-profile issue has gained bipartisan attention, but it remains unclear if that’s enough to move it to the finish line. Here’s a review of the current state of play.

Are Surprises Ahead For Legislation To Curb Surprise Medical Bills?

This high-profile issue has gained bipartisan attention, but it remains unclear if that’s enough to move it to the finish line. Here’s a review of the current state of play.

Hidden Reports Masked The Scope Of Widespread Harm From Faulty Heart Device

The Food and Drug Administration allowed one company to send 50,000 reports of harm or malfunctions to an internal database even as patients worried about faulty defibrillators lodged in their hearts.

Opioid Prescriptions Drop Sharply Among State Workers

New data from the California agency that manages health benefits for 1.5 million public employees, retirees and their families shows that doctors are writing far fewer opioid prescriptions, reflecting a national trend of physicians cutting back on the addictive drugs.

Escalating Workplace Violence Rocks Hospitals

Incidents of serious workplace violence are four times more common in health care than in private industry, according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.

Listen: After Its Hospital Closes, A Pioneer Kansas Town Searches For What Comes Next

Deep questions underlie what is happening in Fort Scott, Kan.: Do small communities like this one need a traditional hospital at all? And, if not, what health care do they need?

Walmart Charts New Course By Steering Workers To High-Quality Imaging Centers

Walmart, the nation’s largest private employer, is recommending that employees and dependents use one of 800 imaging centers identified as providing trustworthy care.

Must-Reads Of The Week From Brianna Labuskes

Newsletter editor Brianna Labuskes wades through hundreds of health care policy stories each week, so you don’t have to.

Surprise! Fixing Out-Of-Network Bills Means Someone Must Pay

Despite the broad agreement on the need to address surprise bills, insurers and health care providers oppose the other side’s preferred solutions.